Team News

Davis, Gebben, Parris Shine at Hokie Invitational

Ansley Gebben qualified for the ECAC meet in the women's 400 on Saturday and was also part of the eighth-fastest women's 4 x 400 relay quartet in program history.

Saturday's action at the Hokie Invitational included numerous highlights for Liberty, including a victory by Caroline Parris in the women's 5K, an ECAC qualifier for Ansley Gebben in the women's 400 and an IC4A qualifier for Zach Davis in the men's high jump.

Women's Day 2 Recap Parris' first-place 5K finish came in a time of 18:34.72, which set a new indoor personal best by 38 seconds. Teammate Jessie Proehl took the runner-up position in 19:08.04, while Lindsey Bray's personal-best 19:21.39 clocking was good for fourth place.

Gebben posted an ECAC-qualifying time of 56.88 for ninth place in the women's 400, headlining an impressive afternoon for the Lady Flames' quarter-milers. Corinn Bedell (11th place, 57.43) and Olivia Behymer (20th place, 58.89) also achieved season-best times in the 400.

Liberty then put a pair of women's 4 x 400 relay teams under 4:00. Leading the way was the team of Gebben, Abigail Flower, Bedell and Mary Witmer, who placed fourth in 3:50.96. That makes them the eighth-fastest 4 x 400 quartet in program history.

Earlier in the day, Abigail Flower had placed sixth at 200 meters, thanks to a personal-best time of 24.41 seconds. The senior fell just 0.04 seconds shy of teammate Oasis Hernandez's school record of 24.37, set on the same track last season at the Big South Championship.

Freshman Erin Zappia high jumped 5-3.25 to share seventh place. Meanwhile, Dana Mercer notched the top long jump effort by a Lady Flame this season (18-1.5), which was good for 10th place.

Men's Day 2 Recap Davis' third-attempt high jump clearance at 6-8.25 punched his IC4A ticket and placed the sophomore fourth in the event. Teammate Kyle Wheeler tied for 11th at 6-3.5.

Davis also long jumped a personal-best 22-10.75, falling less than two inches shy of the IC4A standard in that event. He came in eighth overall, one spot ahead of classmate Aklesso Agama, who reached 22-10.5.

Rounding out the field events, David Scouten (12th place, 51-0) and Tim Abbott (16th place, 49-4.5) both achieved season-best throws in the men's shot put.

Running his third event of the weekend, sophomore Stephen Racanelli sped to a season-best 200-meter dash time of 22.30 for 15th place.

Andrew Garrett crossed the line in 1:58.89 to place 13th at the 800-meter distance.

Liberty will take next weekend off from competition before returning to the track on Feb. 6-7, when the Flames and Lady Flames head to University Park, Pa., for the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup.

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